Status: Closed. The Australia Awards Scholarships 2027-2028 opened for applications on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026. This article describes that intake as published by the Australia Awards programme and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, so that readers can see what the award offers, who it is for, and how to prepare for the next round. Do not try to apply for this intake now.
Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term awards administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They give citizens of Australia’s partner countries the opportunity to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education institutions. The programme is designed to develop the knowledge, leadership and networks that scholars need to contribute to development in their own countries, and it is built around the idea that a scholar returns home after the award. The scholarships are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic programme specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training.
Summary
| Programme | Australia Awards Scholarships 2027-2028 |
|---|---|
| Host country | Australia |
| Funded by | Australian Government, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) |
| Study level | Undergraduate and postgraduate (bachelor’s, master’s by coursework, master’s by research, PhD) |
| Funding | Fully funded |
| Applications | 1 February 2026 – 30 April 2026 |
| Status | Closed |
What the scholarship covers
Australia Awards Scholarships cover the main costs of studying in Australia, and the list of benefits is the same framework used across the programme’s country offices. Awardees receive full tuition fees, return air travel, an establishment allowance paid as a one-time payment as a contribution towards accommodation, books and study materials, and a fortnightly contribution to living expenses. The award also covers the Introductory Academic Program, which is a compulsory orientation programme that introduces new scholars to living and studying in Australia, and Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the award. Supplementary academic support and pre-course English are available where they are required, and research students can receive a research allowance for fieldwork.
Those benefits are what make the award fully funded in practice. Tuition, travel, health cover, orientation and living costs are all covered rather than left to the student. Note that the contribution to living expenses is a contribution, not a full salary, and scholars should read the policy handbook for their country to see the conditions that apply to them, including whether family members can accompany them and what support is available in that case.
Who can apply
Australia Awards Scholarships are for citizens of partner countries. The general rules, as published in the programme’s country applicant information, are that you must be at least 18 years old on 1 February of the year you start the scholarship, be a citizen of the partner country, live and work there, and be committed to returning after your studies. You must not be an Australian citizen, hold permanent residence in Australia, or be applying for a visa to live in Australia permanently. You must not be married to, engaged to, or the de facto partner of a person who holds, or is eligible to hold, Australian or New Zealand citizenship or permanent residence at any time during the application, selection or mobilisation phases. You must not be currently serving in the military.
You must be applying for a progressive or higher-level qualification — a master’s degree if you hold a bachelor’s degree, for example — and you must have at least two years of work experience. People with disability are exempt from the work experience requirement. You must meet the minimum English language proficiency requirements — for example, an IELTS overall score of 6.5 with no band below 6.0 as published for Papua New Guinea, though the exact scores vary by course and institution — be able to take up the scholarship in the year it is awarded, and be able to satisfy the admission requirements of the institution where the award will be taken and to meet Australian visa requirements (subclass 500). You must not have received a long-term Australia Award in the previous four years, and you must not hold convictions for criminal activities, including in your home country. All information must meet the requirements of the Australia Awards Scholarships Policy Handbook.
Those are the general conditions. Each partner country adds its own conditions: its own list of priority sectors and study areas, its own work experience and academic rules, and its own application route. Always read the information published for your own country, because a condition that applies in one country may not apply in another.
What you can study
Australia Awards Scholarships are offered for three levels of study: bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees by coursework, and research degrees. Bachelor’s scholarships are offered for study in degree areas not available in the scholar’s home country. Master’s by coursework scholarships can be taken in any field open to international students in Australia. A limited number of scholarships are available each year for research degrees — PhD, master’s by research and Master of Philosophy — and those applicants are asked to submit a detailed research proposal and confirmation from the proposed supervisor who has agreed to supervise the research at an Australian institution.
There are also specific rules about second degrees. In the Papua New Guinea programme, for example, applicants who obtained their first master’s degree from a PNG institution may apply for a second master’s degree, while applicants who earned their first master’s degree from an overseas institution are not eligible to apply for another. Short courses are a separate Australia Awards offering and are not covered by this scholarship.
Deadline: 2027-2028 intake is closed
Applications for the 2027 intake opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026, according to the official programme information. There is no application fee to submit an application, and all materials and forms are provided free of charge. For the next intake, the pattern to expect is a window opening in the early months of the year before the study year, but the exact dates for the following intake will be published by the programme and should be confirmed on the official website.
How to apply
Applications are submitted through the online application system known as OASIS, the Online Australia Awards Information System. The programme advises applicants to read its applicant information before they begin, to confirm they meet the eligibility criteria, and to submit a strong application — several country programmes publish guidance and tips for a strong application. As part of the application, you name your course and institution preferences, and you should research them carefully: the course must be open to international students in Australia, and it must fit the development needs of your country and your own career.
Do not pay anyone to apply for you. There is no fee to apply, and the official information says the forms and materials are provided free of charge. Anyone who offers to secure an Australia Award for a fee is not acting for the programme. If you are offered a place through the official process, the programme will guide you through its own steps, including the Introductory Academic Program and the visa process.
Frequently asked questions
Are Australia Awards Scholarships fully funded?
Yes. They cover full tuition fees, return air travel, an establishment allowance, a contribution to living expenses, the Introductory Academic Program and Overseas Student Health Cover, with supplementary support where needed.
Do I need work experience?
Yes, generally at least two years. People with disability are exempt from this requirement.
Can I apply if I already hold a master’s degree?
Generally no, for another master’s from an overseas institution, with exceptions set by country programme — for example, a first master’s from a PNG institution may allow a second. Check your country’s information.
Is there an application fee?
No. There is no fee to submit an application, and all materials and forms are provided free of charge.
Is the 2027-2028 application still open?
No. It opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026.
Official source
All deadline, eligibility and programme details in this article were checked against official Australia Awards programme pages on 13 November 2026. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website was not reachable from this browser during the check, so the official Australia Awards country programme page was used as the primary source.
Official website: Australia Awards
Official page: Applicant Information — Australia Awards Papua New Guinea
Last checked: 13 November 2026. Conditions and dates vary by country; the official Australia Awards pages for your country are the authority.